Replaces the powers that may be provided in the power of appointment for a special conservator of the peace (SCOP), which currently may include all powers, functions, duties, responsibilities, and authority of any other conservator of the peace, with only the duties for which the SCOP is qualified by training established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. The bill requires the order of appointment to provide that such duties shall be exercised only in the geographical limitations specified by the court. The bill requires that the order delineate a limit beyond which the SCOP may not effectuate an arrest following a close pursuit. The bill prohibits all SCOPs from using the word "police" and all SCOPs other than those employed by a state agency from using the seal of the Commonwealth on their equipment in the performance of their duties. The bill provides for certain exceptions from its provisions for SCOPs employed by the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission and the Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority, provided that such SCOPs meet all the requirements for law-enforcement officers, including the minimum compulsory training requirements.
Adds misdemeanor violations of §§ 18.2-57 (assault and battery) and 18.2-119 (trespass) to the list of offenses for which an adult convicted of such offense must have a sample of his blood, saliva, or tissue taken for DNA analysis. This bill is identical to
Allows a convicted person's sentence to be reduced if such person provides substantial assistance, defined in the bill, in the furtherance of the investigation or prosecution of another person engaged in an act of violence or for offenses involving the manufacture or distribution of controlled substances or marijuana. Sentence reduction can occur only upon motion of the attorney for the Commonwealth. This bill incorporates
Directs the Board of Health to amend regulations governing newborn screening to include screening for Pompe disease and mucopolysaccharidosis type 1 (MPS-1). This bill is identical to
Increases the membership of the State Board of Elections (Board) from three members to six members and increases the terms of Board members from four years to six years. Equal representation shall be given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth at the last preceding gubernatorial election. Appointments are to be made with due consideration of geographical representation and no two Board members are to reside in the same congressional district. Terms are initially staggered. The bill also grants to the Board the authority to appoint and remove the Commissioner of Elections, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, to head the Department of Elections and to act as the principal administrative officer. The appointment or removal of the Commissioner shall require an affirmative vote of five of the six Board members. The bill requires the Board to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2019.
Updates the six-year capital outlay plan for projects to be funded entirely or partially from general fund-supported resources.
Provides that any person who drives a motor vehicle on any highway while using a handheld personal communications device where such use substantially diverts the driver's attention from the operation of the motor vehicle is guilty of distracted driving. Current law prohibits only the reading of an email or text message on the device and manually entering letters or text in the device as a means of communication. The bill provides that distracted driving is punishable as a traffic infraction with a fine of not more than $500 and a mandatory minimum fine of $250 if the violation occurs in a highway work zone.
Conference report agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N)
Failed to pass
Provides that a person is guilty of felony homicide, which constitutes second degree murder and is punishable by confinement of not less than five nor more than 40 years, if the underlying felonious act that resulted in the killing of another involved the manufacture, sale, gift, or distribution of a Schedule I or II controlled substance to another and (i) such other person's death results from his use of the controlled substance and (ii) the controlled substance is the proximate cause of his death. The bill also provides that venue for a prosecution of this crime shall lie in the locality where the underlying felony occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred. This bill serves to overrule the Court of Appeals of Virginia decision in Woodard v. Commonwealth, 61 Va. App. 567, 739 S.E.2d 220 (2013), aff'd, 287 Va. 276, 754 S.E.2d 309 (2014).
Failed to pass
Failed to pass
